The Child Emperor

Meng E returned, but did not see the Weary Marquis’s wife or mother in the palace.

Marquis Ping’en’s wife had exaggerated her influence. Her so-called palace visit was merely a routine matter. Since the Empress Dowager was ill, noble ladies had to take turns visiting and attending to her as part of their duties as subjects, but that was all. The Empress Dowager didn’t really need them – they stayed one night in the palace before being sent away.

The court historians would solemnly record the noble ladies’ loyalty, but did not care about what happened.

Han Ruzi had anticipated this outcome. He looked at Meng E a bit longer and couldn’t help saying: “Your appearance has changed quite dramatically.”

Meng E was wearing makeup, adding several degrees of glamour quite unlike her usual self.

“People in the palace know me, so I had to disguise myself a bit.”

Han Ruzi smiled without saying much, but Meng E turned and left, seemingly annoyed.

Starting that afternoon, Han Ruzi suddenly became busy. First, he attended a poetry society gathering in the city with Yang Feng, where they met many scholars and literati, including an official from the Ministry of Revenue.

When discussing opening granaries, this official shook his head without hesitation: “Grain is fundamental to the state and of utmost importance. We cannot act rashly. Want to downplay this matter? Impossible. We must have an imperial edict before the Ministry can order local granaries opened.”

Han Ruzi proposed many hypothetical scenarios, but the Revenue official rejected them all mercilessly. “Prefects and magistrates do have some authority to request local wealthy families release grain, and officials can distribute porridge, but these are normal measures. Now with refugees numbering over 300,000 according to reports, and the actual situation likely worse, small-scale grain distribution won’t solve the problem.”

“I read in historical records of officials who opened granaries first and reported to the court afterward for approval.”

The Revenue official smiled and shook his head. “The Weary Marquis speaks of imperial envoys – local officials wouldn’t dare do such things. Even envoys with discretionary powers to open granaries would face punishment upon returning to the capital, demotion being the lightest penalty. Besides, the court currently can’t send any envoys . There’s another issue – an envoy can only open granaries in one area, but with refugees spread across the empire, news of grain distribution in one location would cause masses to flood in, with unthinkable consequences.”

The situation was indeed more complex than Han Ruzi had anticipated. The Revenue official advised: “I understand the Weary Marquis’s compassion for the people, but there’s truly nothing to be done. Fortunately spring is coming – once wild vegetables grow, the people can endure until then.”

Han Ruzi could only smile and nod without arguing. He had read that spring was actually the hardest season – starving farmers would eat the grains left for seeding, leaving nothing to plant in spring, causing refugee numbers to surge again. The idea of surviving on wild vegetables was merely a scholar’s fantasy.

Han Ruzi hadn’t given up hope. He wanted to meet more officials. Qu Zixi and Guo Cong were willing to help and even offered advice, making a list of names.

In the evening, Prince Donghai sent for Han Ruzi, ostensibly for a banquet but actually to meet two law enforcement officials from the “Guanghua Tigers.”

These two men – one a chief clerk of some department in the Ministry of Punishments and one a judicial clerk under the Capital Prefect – weren’t high-ranking enough to participate in emperor selection. However, they once wielded great power – they could bypass their superiors to discuss matters directly with the Empress Dowager. For arrests, informing, interrogations, and confessions, original documents went to the Empress Dowager, with copies kept in their departments.

But their good days were over. Though they still met at Guanghua Tower, they no longer dared make arrests openly, fearing retaliation if the Empress Dowager lost power.

“There aren’t just a few openly visible fate seers among the capital’s sorcerers.” Lian Danchen, the judicial clerk, was over fifty, refined and scholarly. “According to my information, there are at least fifteen fate seers, plus other fortune tellers, storytellers, traveling doctors, performers and so on, totaling no less than 500 people. Over 70% have come to the Capital from elsewhere in recent months.”

Zhang Jing, the Ministry of Punishment clerk, was younger, around thirty, with sharp eyes that seemed to constantly gauge others’ thoughts. Like Lian Danchen, he defined “sorcerer” broadly: “There are also over ten thousand refugees. After driving some away, two to three thousand remain in hiding, possibly including major criminals. I’ve located several hideouts but can’t make arrests.”

“Does arresting people require an imperial edict?” Han Ruzi was increasingly interested in how the government operated.

The two clerks exchanged glances. Lian Danchen said: “If it’s just arresting a few people, that’s no problem, but that would alert others, and moreover-“

Prince Donghai, who had been listening, finished for him: “The fate seers are currently favored by the Empress Dowager and the Champion Marquis. One word from them and the offices must release anyone arrested.”

“No edict needed?”

“Why would you need an edict just to release someone?”

Zhang Jing added: “Prisoners in the Ministry of Punishment’s jail can’t be released easily, but we can report deaths from illness and secretly release them – not too many, and they must change their identities.”

Even when the court was functioning normally, various levels of government had ways to bypass imperial permission and act independently.

The two clerks hadn’t come to complain. Lian Danchen first asked: “The Lord Marquis attended a poetry society’s gathering this afternoon?”

Han Ruzi nodded – with his status, keeping secrets in the Capital was extremely difficult.

Lian Danchen hesitated. Prince Donghai encouraged him: “Lord Lian, no need to hold back. Just speak freely.”

“The Weary Marquis and Prince Donghai must act faster. The Champion Marquis has been hosting officials for banquets these past days. They’re reportedly preparing a joint memorial – as soon as the current emperor passes, they’ll demand the Empress Dowager immediately select a new emperor.”

The Champion Marquis didn’t want to wait six months either, especially since victory seemed assured.

“The emperor could pass at any moment,” Prince Donghai lowered his voice slightly. “Lin Kunshan once accidentally revealed to me that the fate seers could determine when the emperor would…”

Prince Donghai made a gesture. Lin Kunshan hadn’t been so direct, but Prince Donghai believed that was the meaning.

So far, Han Ruzi and Prince Donghai hadn’t received any official’s open support. Even Grand Tutor Cui and Grand General Han Xing were hedging their bets, maintaining secret communications with the Champion Marquis.

“Don’t worry, I’m not moving any slower than the Champion Marquis,” Han Ruzi said calmly.

The two officials looked pleased, and Prince Donghai nodded approvingly. He had invited Han Ruzi to boost the Guanghua Tigers’ confidence, and this goal seemed achieved.

Han Ruzi asked: “How about Prince Ying?”

Prince Donghai was startled. “Prince Ying? Who cares about him?”

“Prince Ying is the Empress Dowager’s chosen contender. We shouldn’t underestimate him,” Han Ruzi was concerned about this young competitor.

Lian Danchen said seriously: “The Weary Marquis is right. Prince Ying indeed hasn’t made any moves, neither courting officials nor nobles. But I heard choosing Prince Ying as a contender was the fate seers’ idea, to ensure the Champion Marquis would still have a competitor in case of emergency.”

“Emergency? What emergency? Could someone be planning to kill us?” Prince Donghai asked nervously.

Lian Danchen shook his head. “That won’t happen. The Empress Dowager personally ordered the Eight Palace Guard Camps to maintain stability in the Capital, and had us secretly protect the Weary Marquis, Prince Donghai, Prince Ying, and the Champion Marquis. Any irregularities would be thoroughly investigated. Please be assured, you have hundreds if not thousands protecting you. Nothing will go wrong.”

Zhang Jing added: “The emergency refers to someone leaving the Capital and losing their eligibility to compete.”

“Who would be that stupid?” Prince Donghai laughed, then looked at Han Ruzi and stopped smiling.

Han Ruzi said: “We’ll be careful. Please help us and tell the Guanghua heroes: The Great Chu’s foundation lies with departmental clerks rather than officials. Officials are few and their positions unstable, with department heads changing every few years, while clerks handle the same matters for life, accumulating merit and advancing within their offices. You’ve both always been clerks in law enforcement, right?”

Lian Danchen and Zhang Jing nodded repeatedly – the Weary Marquis’s words resonated deeply.

“The Empress Dowager and fate seers only allowing fifth rank and above officials to select the emperor shows their shallow vision – they see only the shrubs and trees above ground, not the roots below. Prince Donghai and I promise that if successful, we will heavily employ clerks throughout the empire to maintain Great Chu’s stability.”

The two clerks left their seats and knelt before the Weary Marquis, kowtowing repeatedly.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

This was just the first meeting – not yet time for detailed planning. Prince Donghai had people escort Lian Danchen and Zhang Jing out, then smiled at Han Ruzi: “When did you become so eloquent? Those two were almost crying with excitement when they left.”

“From reading books,” Han Ruzi said.

“I don’t remember any book saying clerks are more important than officials. I’ve read more books than you, not fewer.”

“It’s right there in national history: When the Founding Emperor established the dynasty, the realm stabilized within two or three years. How? Certainly not through his military commanders – they could fight but not govern. Not through the previous dynasty’s officials – few remained, either executed or reduced to commoners. And not through officials from the civil examination – it took twenty or thirty years before the examination system flourished and filled government positions. It was the minor clerks left from the previous dynasty who assisted Chu’s emperor and officials in governing, serving diligently just as they had served before, unchanged to this day.”

Prince Donghai was speechless for a moment. “Hey, you read books differently than I do. But this also shows clerks aren’t loyal – they don’t care who’s emperor since everyone needs them anyway.”

“Correct.”

Prince Donghai paused. “You mean we can’t rely on the Guanghua Tigers?”

“Yes. The Guanghua Tigers know too much and wield too much power. The Champion Marquis has no reason not to court them, and they have no reason to be his enemies.”

“But officials dislike the Guanghua Tigers – there’s hatred between them-“

“Hatred can be resolved. Besides, the officials’ hatred targets only a few individuals, not all clerks.”

Prince Donghai had been quite pleased but now felt deeply disappointed by Han Ruzi’s words. He sighed and was about to speak when knocking came from outside. A maid announced: “Your Highness, the Princess Consort seeks an audience.”

Prince Donghai’s wife hadn’t been officially titled yet, but the household called her “Princess Consort.” Prince Donghai was startled, then blushed. “What is she doing? How can she- how can she meet other men?”

The “other man” Han Ruzi was also surprised but curious to see how formidable this daughter of the Tan family was.

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